Man City-Liverpool in FA Cup quarter-final draw standout tie: the draw as it happened

Final tie is

West Ham-Brentford vs Leeds United

Third game features:

Man City at home to Liverpool... not a bad tie !!!!

Second tie sees:

Chelsea are at home to Port Vale

Off we go... the first ball out is .....

Number 1....Southampton and they face Arsenal

42 FA Cup wins between the remaining sides in the competition.

Both Joe Cole and Joe Hart are on hand to draw the balls.

Draw imminent....

We're just moments away from discovering the pairings in the 25-26 FA Cup ....

We're live at the London Stadium and the draw is next up.

When will the 2025-26 FA Cup quarter final games be played?

The quarter final games are scheduled to take place on the weekend of Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5.

While one of Liverpool, City, Arsenal and Chelsea will be expected to lift the trophy, Port Vale, 24th in England's League One, and Championship club Southampton will be hoping for favorable draws as they look to continue their impressive runs.

FA Cup

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Ball numbers (reminder)

Ball Numbers

1. Southampton

2. Port Vale

3. Manchester City

4. Leeds United

5. Arsenal

6. Liverpool

7. Chelsea

8. West Ham United/Brentford

Draw time looming

We're roughly ten minutes away from draw time with proceedings set to start at the London Stadium ahead of West Ham United's fifth round match against Brentford.

Former England international Joe Hart will be charged with selecting the balls that correspond with the remaining sides in the competition.

Liverpool eye FA Cup glory

Despite needing a miracle to secure the Premier League title this season, Liverpool could bag a cup double with the Reds still involved in the Champions League as they face Galatasaray this week in the Round of 16.

LFC fans too will be hoping for a positive draw in the FA Cup and a cup double would be seen as a major positive for the team that have struggled to maintain the consistency witnessed in the 24-25 season.

Arsenal and City still eye quadruple

Both sides are still involved in four competitions and will meet in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on March 22nd.

Both the Gunners and Citizens are in the hat for tonight's FA Cup quarter-final draw and both still battling for the 2025-26 Premier League title.

In Europe too, both sides are expected to go deep in the Champions League. City face an off colour Real Madrid as Arsenal take on Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16.

Wrexham push Chelsea all the way

It was a case of close but no cigar for Hollywood duo Rob Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as their Wrexham side fell to Chelsea in the fifth round.

In a thrilling FA Cup fifth-round clash, The Blues narrowly avoided a historic upset with a 4-2 extra-time victory over Wrexham at a raucous Racecourse Ground. 

UEFA Europa League place on the line for FA Cup winner

The FA Cup winners qualify for the following season's UEFA Europa League (formerly named the UEFA Cup); they previously entered the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup from its launch in 1960 until its final edition in 1998. This European place applies even if the team is relegated or is not in the English top flight.

The draw mechanic

Just a reminder that the draw process for the FA Cup is an open one with no seeding process or home advantage for the smaller ranked teams.

Spain's Copa del Rey differs in that the lower ranked sides are guaranteed a home tie and the semi-final is a home and away two game tie.

The key source of criticism at the Spanish model is that all four Spanish Super Cup sides are parachuted straight into the third round.

Each model has its strengths and weaknesses but difficult to say which format is the ‘better’ one.

The talismanic Port Vale jersey

This season's Port Vale's kit is a beauty and it marks the club's 150th anniversary and is based on that worn during their successful 1953–54 campaign.

Coincidentally, that was the only season in their history where they had reached the FA Cup quarter-finals prior to 2025–26. The Valiants fell short that season at the semi-final stage losing to WBA (2-1) in March 1954.

How the bookies see the FA Cup play out

Arsenal are the leading favourite from book-maker aggregator Odds Checker with Manchester City and Liverpool also strongly fancied.

Both Leeds and Brentford are interesting outside flutters with both teams capable of going head to head with any other Premier League rival.

Saints and Valiants flying the flag

The only non Premier League sides left in the competition are the aforementioned Port Vale who play in the third tier (League 1) along with second tier Southampton.

The Saints shocked Fulham with a 0-1 win at Craven Cottage and the side from the south coast have lifted the famous trophy once in the club's history with a 1976 triumph over Man United.

Vale looking for another home tie

Port Vale's previous best FA Cup finish saw them reach the semi-finals in 1953–54. In the 2023–24 season, they reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup for the first time.

The Valiants delivered the biggest shock of the 5th round as they shocked Sunderland with a Ben Waine strike the only goal of the game.

FA Cup Holders Crystal Palace lost to 6th-tier Macclesfield in all-time FA Cup upset back in January but 14 time winners Arsenal are still ‘gunning’ for a 15th title. 

Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City will also be tipped to go all the way.

When are the 2025-26 FA Cup quarter finals set to be played?

The quarterfinal games are scheduled to take place on the weekend of Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5, with the winners moving one step closer to the semifinals at Wembley Stadium.

Joe Hart on draw duty

Former Manchester City, Torino and Glasgow Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart will be on ball selection duty for tonight's draw.

Since hanging up the gloves in 2024, the 38-year-old is now involved with media work and has covered tournaments with the BBC and TNT Sports. 

Times for final fifth round match

FA Cup draw: ball numbers

Ball Numbers

1. Southampton

2. Port Vale

3. Manchester City

4. Leeds United

5. Arsenal

6. Liverpool

7. Chelsea

8. West Ham United or Brentford

The FA Cup draw will be held at the London Stadium ahead of Monday's all-Premier League game between West Ham United and Brentford, the last matchup in the fifth round.

The proceedings are expected to commence at 3:05 p.m. ET during the pre-game coverage to the London derby meeting between the Hammers and The Bees.

Hello and a warm welcome to you all ahead of our live coverage of the 2025-26 FA Cup quarter final draw as just 9 teams remain in contention for the trophy.